I also wanna know about Christmas Day. I arrive v.early christmas day morning in melbourne... Are there any parties or meet up places? I shall be in sydney for NYE and will just be doing whatever my sister and famiy are doing presumably.

I have no idea on plans this time around, but I can tell you what happened on the last tour.

Christmas Day - MelbourneUnless you have family arrangements then I would strongly suggest you go to the BA Christmas day lunch. Last time it was in the Crown Casino down on the South Bank and for about $125 (I think ?) you had a 3 course meal and as much drink as you could down in about 3 hours. This was very good value in my opinion and there was lots of singing and merryment and there were even rumours that the convict team were having lunch in the next door room, so you can guess how loud we were. I was lucky enough to do all 5 tests last time and can honestly say this was my best day outside of the cricket.

New Years Eve - SydneyWhilst there will be some who stay in Melbourne I flew into Sydney on New Years Eve and once again went to the BA party in a hotel down near Circular Key called the Paragon. I think this was about $25 just to get in and to be honest I wouldn't go there again if I was going this time around. The Paragon is a great base in a great location but just not on New Year's Eve. The amount of people in this area that night was bonkers, there must have been millions all trying to see the fireworks over the bridge and Opera House. Stupidly, I strolled out at about 11.30pm and saw hardly anything. My mate stayed around Darling Harbour and saw much more than me and another pushed the boat out and paid some stupid money for a meal on a boat in the harbour which he said was expensive but well worth it.

I just hope you have the same great time as I had. Priceless memories.

Yes, the BA Christmas Party was a great day, very nice venue, a decent meal and as much as you could drink for the 3 hours. I'm sure the Aussies were having their meal in the function room next door and our singing had something to do with the Aussie capitulation on Boxing Day?!

The BA Xmas meal was advertised on this site the last time and you could book places online so keep an eye out on the site for any announcements etc.

We'd be interested in the BA Christmas day meal potentially. Is this open to everyone or is it only BA members that are on the official tour package? I'm guessing more details will appear on the forums nearer the time?

Don't know if everyone is watching as closely as me, but the pound has gone up about 3c today (to 1.61) and about 18cents in the last 2 months or so. The difference between 1.4 and 1.6(or more?) could be a real bonus of a few hundred quid over the whole trip.

We'd be interested in the BA Christmas day meal potentially. Is this open to everyone or is it only BA members that are on the official tour package? I'm guessing more details will appear on the forums nearer the time?